Op-ed: Do you ever think that for all the modern technological advances WE are going backwards almost into the Middle Ages?

Acts of barbarism fill our news feeds and man's inhumanity to man appears to know no boundaries but then there is animal abuse and cruelty.

If you think the worst of such animal abuse is Asian think again.

This story is not for the faint-hearted.

A female pit bull was brutally raped before she was murdered and left hanging from a tree. The monstrous act happened in Thurston County, Washington, in the United States of America.

The poor dog appears to have been restrained while she was brutalised before being strangled to death.

A $5,000 dollar reward has been posted for any information leading to the capture of this sick individual and group of individuals.

The reward is double the usual HSUS amount due to a separate donation.

The reward has been offered by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) but surely any decent person would willingly hand over such a vicious criminal.

If the perpetrator will do that to a dog imagine what he may do to a person or a child? You may think he would only attack an animal as that is what floats his boat but you are wrong.

The link between animal cruelty and cruel acts against people has been shown.

I for one would hate to think such a sick individual was living near me.

But what will the authorities do if they catch this killer?

So many times in the UK justice for animals brutalised is weak, inadequate or lacking.

Will the authorities in Washington treat the vile person or people behind the death of this dog appropriately?

For now at least the search is one to find the rapist and killer or killers.

Dan Paul, Washington state director for The HSUS, said: "This is a truly horrific situation in all aspects. To think about the suffering this dog experienced in her final moments, as well as knowing there's an individual or individuals in our state who would perpetrate this type of abuse, is sickening. We are hopeful this reward will bring someone forward with information about this despicable crime."

According to Fox61, the FBI is assisting with the investigation into the murder of the animal, and is offering double the society's award amount to anyone who has information.

As animal rights activists show and share images online to highlight abuse and try to stop events such as the Yulin dog eating festival a cautionary note.

Are we unintentionally encouraging some sickos as we try to help animals in need?

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